You yourself are talking about plagiarism in your topic:
Plagiarism: Where Do We Draw the Line? referring to the rules. It was a month and a half before your ban. You talk about newbies and their plagiarism and at the same time fall for plagiarism, as you claim, which was written at the time when you were a newbie.
That is, you talk about it by telling others, but you are not able to apply your statements to yourself. This is strange.
This is true. No argument there. The plagiarised posts were in my early days and are coming back to haunt me. The
Plagiarism: Where Do We Draw the Line? was created in a quest to question the extent of plagiarism. It was at this point I was becoming more aware of the dangers of such actions. In an attempt to throw light on plagiarism it's ironic I didn't to question myself. Its not so funny at this point that I lacked the insight to look at my ownself. That is my blind spot. I seek repentance and plead for retribution
Thank you all for your sympathy and understanding. I really appreciate it. A signature ban in my case would be mercy. I will accept such mercy if given. Being a member of the forum is more important to me
No doubt here that this user have violated the rule of the forum to which he has come to beg for forgiveness and a second chance. I won't consider his post as an appeal but an apology from someone who realizes he has done more grievous harm by preaching the sermon but not being sure of how clean his own actions are.
It is quite different with the other user's case though but rather than a total throwaway of the child and the bath water, if the mod could have a retribution for him that can still allow him a chance to start preaching and doing the act in same manner, he can realize the gravity of plagiarism. Plagiarism is an offence of intellitual property and frowned at even in real world. I think he is begging for a signature ban at least to have a chance to continue with the forum going forward. But is up to the mods to take a decision better for the forum.